Vol. 20, #07 – 10/31/13

Dear Reader, we've been thick in the Minneapolis races.

During this last week we need to draw some aces.
This Halloween edition will be devoid of news.
But what the heck, we’ll entertain you with our views.

Careful readers of Online have noticed a dip in our frequency. We were proud pioneers of micro publishing when we began publishing via the fax machine in 1994, but the internet and social media have crowded the space we operate in. Our mission hasn’t changed: to inform our networks of clients, potential clients and friends on matters where politics, civic affairs, and commerce converge. Infomarketing, to coin a phrase. Social media has opened an “open mic” night, creating a din difficult to penetrate useful information through.

We’re not conceding just yet, however. Given the region’s main print news has completely eschewed its fourth estate responsibility in favor of schilling for real estate sales that benefit the owners—certainly not the public—and that MinnPost, the internet counterpart, is woefully wonkish and undersourced, we think there is value in what we provide. This January we are launching Online 2.0 in a new format. Punchy, pithier, and a guaranteed asset in your civic road map.

Your editors have been immersed in projects largely political and theatrical and not generally useful, but permit us to scare the establishment this Halloween with some observations along the way.

Congratulations to Carmichael Lynch Spong. The firm was recently awarded a branding assignment by the City of Brooklyn Park. This community is on the move, offering the cultural diversity of tomorrow’s America today and the economic opportunity of post-World War II growth in a world of tomorrow. City leaders recognize a new image needs to be presented. There is nothing wrong with that image that can’t be fixed with what is right about Brooklyn Park. The CLS team is ideally suited to take on the challenge. We boldly predict that Brooklyn Park will be recognized as the state’s third-most important economic center behind Minneapolis and Rochester by the year 2025.

Dear Reader, we know that you are weary of our shameless Target Field boostering. You can’t be blamed for rolling your collective eyes. Given the loud cry of objection for ballpark funding and outright derision for potential economic development, we are compelled to offer some fun facts three years after the ballpark opened. Since construction began in 2006 there have been $459,160,345 worth of projects built in proximity to Target Field. Yes, some, including the transit interchange and related transit projects, are public sector in nature, but more than $400 million of these projects are pure private sector investments. You can see the numbers and the projects for yourself on the handy-dandy, recently spiffed up 2020 Partners website, www.the2020partners.com.

This next stanza also begs some forgiveness to start. It is the letter we wrote last night and should have torn up. We react with an equal mix of sadness and anger at the shambles of what remains of the integrity of the Star Tribune’s editorial board. Once an important guidepost in matters concerning the electorate, it has diminished to a singularly focused tool of its anonymous owners. Geez, at least the world knew who Randolph Hearst was and what he wanted.It seems nearly every endorsement for Minneapolis elected office this year has been colored by the candidate’s view of the Vikings Stadium and its uniquely crafted financing foundation, whether anyone asked or not. We were especially impressed with their willingness to grant mayoral candidate Hodges redemption. Although she was never for a Stadium (wink) she is now all on-board and in it with both feet “to make it work.” Hooray for her willingness to lead the parade down a road she once warned we should not go. Hopefully Betsy’s Blahniks won’t get too muddy. “Making it work” means that the taxpayers will be in far beyond their feet. Can you say necks? It’s time that the house organ formally known as the editorial board accept what the general public already has: the scheme to sell the Strib’s land has succeeded. You need not fear Mark Andrew or anyone else. City and state general funds will save the day and your land sale will commence. Close the deal, take your money, move what’s left of the Strib from its iconic building into three floors of a generic office tower. Then please, get the hell out of town.

Next issue, our bilious urges purged, we will give thanks and return to bringing you happy news. Hopefully news that you can use.

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Mark J. Oyaas is a principal in Neerland & Oyaas, Inc., a public affairs consulting company. His work includes advising clients on business opportunities in the public and nonprofit sectors. In addition to coordinating government relations projects, Mr. Oyaas heads up the firm's communications services under the "germ of an idea" banner.

About

Neerland & Oyaas, Inc. is a professional consulting group designed to help organizations of all kinds reach their objectives by creatively connecting them to government, private sector, civic and financial resources. Neerland & Oyaas provides its clients with expertise in matters relating to the role of profit and nonprofit organizations in local economic development.

Neerland & Oyaas is a registered corporation and is an equal opportunity employer.